Super Ultra Ice Gun
Yeoul paced around the dressing room with an anxious expression. Last night—no, he’d already picked out all his clothes a week ago, so why did everything suddenly seem lackluster when he looked at them today?
Should I just go with that one? No, this one’s probably better… But why do all the clothes suddenly look kind of tacky? Even the colors seem childish…
…I don’t know. I’ll just wear what I prepared.
Having made up his mind, Yeoul ended up wearing the outfit he’d coordinated a week ago. A light purple summer shirt with neat jeans. After finishing his preparations, he looked in the mirror and fussed with his hair this way and that.
His appearance with his bangs swept back with wax looked a bit awkward even to himself. But… he decided to trust the salon director’s words that this hairstyle would make him look the most mature.
After finishing with his hair, he also spritzed on the newly purchased cool water-scented cologne. The sharp, heavy fragrance stung his nose.
“…It really doesn’t suit me, does it.”
His reflection in the mirror muttered with dissatisfaction. Why does my face look especially puffy today? I’ve been feeling slightly feverish since the day before yesterday, so maybe that’s why… His sulky face looked exactly like a little kid, so he quickly changed his expression.
He’d spent his whole life hearing that he looked especially young for his age because of his fair skin, chubby cheeks that hadn’t lost all their baby fat despite his thin body, large eyes without double eyelids, and thick eyelids.
But please, just for today, he wanted to escape that image!
Anyway, he was over twenty years old, so he was legally a full-fledged adult. The snotty brat that Kang Hyeseong knew was no longer here. So let’s have some confidence—Yeoul put strength into his soft, gentle-looking eyes.
However, contrary to his spirited resolve, he was nervous enough that even his hands trembled slightly. But even in the midst of that, he kept humming unconsciously. Even though there was plenty of time before their appointment, his hands hurriedly preparing to go out were full of excitement.
Because today was the day Kang Hyeseong, who’d been dispatched to Lebanon for a year, was finally returning home.
Calm down. It’s not like you’re seeing him for the first time in a day or two.
Yeoul consoled himself as he left the house.
It had been a full thirteen years. Since Yeoul’s family moved in right next door to Hyeseong when he was seven years old and formed a connection with him.
He’d spent more than half of his twenty years of life practically living together with him side by side, so how did it make sense to be this nervous just because he hadn’t seen him for a mere year? No matter how much he tried to think that way, he couldn’t calm his already pounding heart.
What would hyung be like after meeting him for the first time in a year?
Would he be the same, or… would he have become even more handsome?
Even while dispatched, Hyeseong had contacted Yeoul via message once every two or three days. Due to communication security, he couldn’t give detailed explanations about his surroundings, but he consistently asked about Yeoul’s well-being. He also made sure to let him hear his voice once a week.
Because of this, even though Hyeseong had left the country last year when Yeoul was a high school senior, he knew more about everything from Yeoul’s exam life to his freshman life than even Yeoul’s parents did. Everything from major things to trivial details.
But no matter how frequently they’d been in contact, seeing his face was for the first time in a year, so he couldn’t help but be nervous. Yeoul entered the subway station with an excited heart and tapped his transit card. His gaze on the route map posted in the subway station stopped at Seoul Station, where the ‘Ability Management and Security Bureau’ was located.
It was already a crowded and complicated place, so why come all the way here—if you just rest at home, I’ll finish my morning work and come pick you up. Hyeseong had tried to dissuade him with those words, but this time Yeoul was firm too.
Kang Hyeseong had returned the day before but couldn’t go straight home, working late into the night with meetings and overtime, unable to even leave work. He didn’t want to make things harder for someone who’d probably only gotten a few uncomfortable hours of sleep in the office.
―The next station is Seoul Station, Seoul Station. The doors will open on…
As soon as they finally arrived at Seoul Station, Yeoul hurried up the stairs. After passing through the crowded platform and exiting the subway station, hot air came rushing in. The scorching sunlight was dazzling.
He could see old buildings standing densely packed. And in the middle of them, standing tall and unmistakably prominent, was the Ability Management and Security Bureau building.
“Woooow…”
Admiration flowed naturally from Yeoul’s mouth. Even though this wasn’t his first time here, every time he came, he was always overwhelmed by its majesty. Commonly called the ‘Ability Security Bureau,’ it boasted a grand scale and exterior, and was not only the nation’s largest security agency but also had tremendous prestige worldwide.
Just as Yeoul was staring at the Ability Security Bureau building in a daze.
“Yeoul.”
A low, soft voice captured him.
His shoulders flinched. The more mature voice made him think of nothing but how wonderful it was the moment he heard it. Kang Hyeseong’s characteristic subtly emanating cool and refreshing aura. He felt a thrill.
“…Hyung!”
His eyes widened and his mouth opened with a grin. His trembling pupils filled with the person standing before him. His heart was beating so hard it felt like it would burst out of his mouth.
No way, he got even more handsome…
The white shirt worn over black slacks was dazzling. It was an outfit that particularly highlighted his long legs and slender yet firm physique. Today, he looked more like a model from a fashion magazine than a soldier.
Hyeseong’s lips held a refreshing smile. A face as white and beautiful as if carved from ice. People used to praise how even his cold impression and fair skin matched his ice-manipulating attribute. However, his usually cool gaze that looked indifferent was gently softened in front of him.
“Huh, isn’t that person Esper Kang Hyeseong?”
“Oh, I think it is?!”
“I saw in an article that he returned yesterday—it was true!”
“A photo! Hurry and take a photo first.”
The footsteps of passersby stopped one by one. The murmuring sounds gradually grew louder, and the sound of photos being taken could be heard intermittently.
With his presence alone, the atmosphere always elevated so easily. As Korea’s only S-rank Esper and someone who capably led the R1 Team, called the nation’s best unit despite his young age, his abilities were always in the spotlight of domestic and foreign media. On top of that, his appearance, which was comparable to any celebrity’s, was enough to draw high attention.
Then Hyeseong spread his arms wide. It was an attitude that paid no attention whatsoever to the gazes of numerous people. Yeoul’s face, who’d been facing him with about a 10-meter gap between them, turned bright red in an instant. Even though he’d returned home secretly and quietly, why was he being so bold now…
As Yeoul hesitated with his earlobes flushed red, Hyeseong leisurely raised an eyebrow.
“What are you doing? Not coming.”
“…Even so, in such a crowded place…”
“Hurry.”
Hyeseong gestured with a deliberately stern expression. Just like a teacher scolding a student. Seeing that mischievous smile, a resounding thump echoed from a corner of his heart.
Hyung, how old does he think I am to tell me to come into his arms like this…
Yeoul, who’d been hesitating, took a step. One step, then another. Because in the end, his happiness at seeing him won out over embarrassment.
Their bodies finally touched. As soon as he was embraced in that broad chest, strong arms hugged Yeoul’s body tightly. A pleasant coolness, and the scent of soft cologne.
“Did you do well? Our Ulie.”
His heart swelled at the nickname he was hearing after so long. This playful nickname that sounded just like “our-our-ie,” Yeoul loved it very much. Hyeseong was the only one who called him this.
“Yeah. You too… did well, right?”
“Of course I did well. Didn’t you watch the news?”
“I watched it. How could I not watch?”
I watched every single day without missing one. I contacted you often too, hyung, but whenever we occasionally couldn’t get in touch, my heart would pound and I’d feel anxious like I was trapped in a pitch-black room… I’m so glad you came back safely like this.
“…I missed you.”
Yeoul, who’d swallowed all the words he couldn’t fully reveal, barely managed to say only that. However, Hyeseong, who hummed, slowly pulled away and met Yeoul’s eyes. He looked somewhat dissatisfied.
“That’s all?”
“…Then?”
“You’re missing something.”
Ah, hyung… how can he demand so unfailingly even the things he made me do since I was a snotty kid.
Yeoul glared at Hyeseong with displeasure, but he remained composed. How could he beat the hateful Kang Hyeseong who was leisurely waiting only for his words, whether people were murmuring or not, watching or not?
“…I missed you, hyung-ah.”
The moment he said that in a crawling voice, a low laugh flowed from him. Both of Yeoul’s cheeks heated up as if they’d burst. Since it was embarrassing to keep clinging to him, he tried to slip away, but Hyeseong pulled Yeoul in again and hugged him close.
“Ah, now it finally feels real that I’ve come back. Seeing our Ulie.”
Hearing his deeply satisfied voice, something hot welled up from inside his chest. It felt like a boulder he’d been carrying for so long had finally fallen away. What filled the space where the enormous anxiety had been drained all at once was deep relief.
The past year of nervously watching the news every day with his heart in his throat. Large gates had suddenly sprung up one after another near Lebanon, and massive losses and casualties followed as entire cities were destroyed and roads were cut off.
The World Ability Management Association declared a state of emergency and requested cooperation from each country. All the S-rank ability users in the world, of which there were only a few, were dispatched, and naturally Kang Hyeseong was included among them.
Under the Director’s orders, he led his team, R1 Team, and left the country. They eliminated all the countless opening gates, restored the devastated areas, and helped supply relief goods.
During that time, the entire nation’s attention was focused on R1 Team and the safety of Team Leader Kang Hyeseong, Korea’s only S-rank Esper. The morning news briefed about him every single day.
So how must Yeoul’s heart have been? Watching the news and checking articles as soon as he woke up became routine, and despite having no religion, he prayed with a desperate heart for his safety.
“…Huh?”
At that moment, Kang Hyeseong, who was holding Yeoul, made a surprised sound. Please, just let it pass. Yeoul bit his lip tightly with an anxious heart. However.
“Don’t tell me, are you crying?”
“No, I’m not? …Sniff.”
Kang Hyeseong with his ghost-like perceptiveness, as always. Yeoul grumbled inwardly and pressed his hot eyelids firmly against Hyeseong’s chest. How did he know when I didn’t even make a sniffling sound… Contrary to Yeoul’s heart, which was embarrassed to death, Hyeseong laughed with chuckling sounds.
“You’re still such a baby, our Yeoul.”
He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. Seeing Yeoul’s flushed red face, Hyeseong’s smile deepened.
“Should I wipe your nose? Baby.”
“I’m not a baby!”
He ended up shrieking. What was the point of working hard on my hair and putting on cologne! When he was still being treated like a kid today too… Yeoul huffed and whirled around. A low laugh could be heard from behind him.
